Monday, September 13, 1999 Published at 20:37 GMT 21:37 UKUK: ScotlandAnguish of dental tragedy motherThe clinic where 10-year-old Darren Denholm collapsedThe mother of a boy who collapsed after having a tooth out at a dental surgery has said the risks of general anaesthetic were not explained to her.

Isla Denholm was giving evidence at the fatal accident inquiry into the death of her 10-year-old son Darren at the Peffermill clinic in Craigmillar, Edinburgh, last October.

Mr Evans-Appiah said he asked about Darren's previous medical history and added: "Darren was very much afraid of needles. I promised Darren that I would give him gas instead of the jab."

He agreed an assessment involving testing blood pressure and pulse normally was carried out on patients before being given general anaesthetic but said this did not happen with Darren because of his anxiety.

Mr Shiels asked him about figures recorded on the form detailing Darren's blood pressure and asked if he had carried out the pre-operative assessment.

The anaesthetist said he had carried out the assessment but accepted he did not record Darren's blood pressure.

Mr Shiels asked: "Are you saying that these blood pressure figures are fiction?"

Mr Evans-Appiah: Quizzed about checks

Mr Evans-Appiah replied: "No. Yes. I cannot tell you the reason why this was not recorded."

After he had begun giving Darren the general anaesthetic, he walked around the boy and noticed he was moving, so he increased the gas concentration.

Mr Shiels asked if he formed any impression at this stage about Darren's breathing pattern and Mr Evans-Appiah replied: "Yes, I found that his breathing was shallow to the point that he might stop breathing."

Mr Evans-Appiah said he had failed the second part of an anaesthetics course which would have allowed him to specialise in that field.

Earlier, he told Mr Shiels he had learned after the incident that a local anaesthetic had been given to the boy by Norwegian dentist Hallgier Pedersen.

Anne Smith QC, counsel for the dead boy's parents, said tests on Darren after his death had shown the general anaesthetic and the local anaesthetic had reacted with each other to kill the
child.

Mr Evans-Appiah said he did not think this would have caused Darren's death.